Gas scrubber



R. R. HARMON May 6, 1947.

GAS SCRUBBER Filed Feb. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Foes/e74. H/w/ro/v Y L R. R. HARMON 2,420,242

GAS SCRUBBER Filed Feb. 19, 1946 s Sheets- Sheet z INVYENTOR 28 /9 23 Boserie. Maze/101v y 1947- R. R. HARMON V 2,420,242

GAS SCRUBBER Filed Feb. 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Egg INVENTOR 1908512 7%. fl/l/Ewo/v BY q 6 ORNEY Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Peabody Engineering Corporation,

New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 19, 1946, Serial No. 648,797

6 Claims. (Cl. 261-113) This invention relates to gas and liquid contact apparatus of the type having one or more treating zones including perforated plates through which the gas passes upwardly at a velocity suited to prevent the liquid on said diaphragms from passing downwardly through said perforations. Such apparatus may be for cleaning gases, for cooling, or for liquid-gas contact purposes.

In one embodiment the apparatus embodies baffle grids above the perforated plates which assist in the removal of suspended particles and also increase the time of contact between the gas and liquid. An apparatus of this type suited for use as a scrubber is disclosed in my Patent No.

2,319,814, dated May 25, 1943.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved diaphragm assembly for a gas and liquid contact apparatus of the above type.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing the perforated plates and baflle grids of the diaphragm assembly in an apparatus of the above type so as to simplify and expedite the installation and removal of the elements.

Another object is to clamp the perforated plate and loafile elements in the treating zone of a gas and liquid contact apparatus without the use of bolts or nuts which project to obstruct the spray and are frequently difficult to remove due to corrosion.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type having novel and improved details of construction and mounting.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

In one embodiment the invention is applied to a gas and liquid contact apparatus comprising a cylindrical upright casing containing one or more treating zones, as in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,319,814. Each such treating zone has a support consisting of an internal horizontal ledge carried by the cylindrical casing. a central imperforate diaphragm, and radial members which support said diaphragm and extend between the diaphragm and casing like the spokes of a wheel. The radial members have horizontal top flanges and are mounted with said flanges flush with the horizontal ledge and with the central diaphragm, and the perforated plates and bafile grids of the present invention are mounted on the flat horizontal supporting surfaces afforded by the flanges, the ledge and the central diaphragm.

In one of the embodiments hereinafter described, a plurality of loops or staples are secured to the above mentioned supporting surfaces, and segmental perforated plates having slots adjacent their marginal edges are seated on said supporting surfaces with the marginal slots of the plates straddling the staples. Tapered locking pins are driven into some, but not all, of the staples to clamp the perforated plates securely on the supports. For example, the locking pins may be inserted into alternate staples, while every other staple is left unoccupied. Superimposed upon each of the segmental perforated plates is a segmental baiile grid having outwardly extending slotted ears which straddle the alternate staples which were previously left unoccupied, and tapered locking pins are driven into these staples to firmly clamp the bafile grids, as well as the underlying perforated plates, to the support.

In other embodiments of the invention the staples, instead of being carried by the support, are mounted in staggered arrangement on the plate segments while the support is appropriately slotted to receive them. Furthermore, the plate segments may be secured to the under side of the support instead of to the upper surface thereof, as hereinafter more fully described.

The bafile grids of the present invention may comprise a plurality of spaced bars having lateral tabs projecting alternately from opposite sides thereof, so that said tabs together overlie all the perforations of the adjacent perforated plate, which perforations are preferably arranged in linear rows or files. The bafile grids have marginal spacer rods on the lower surface thereof, which secure the bafile bars together and also serve to space the baffle grids slightly from the underlying perforated plates when the elements are assembled in the manner above specified. As a result of the foregoing construction the ascending gases are prevented from leaking upwardly between the edges of the plate segments and their supporting surfaces, and are caused to flow through the perforations of the perforated plates and to be deflected by the overlying lateral tabs of the baflle grids.

The previous practice of using bolts and nuts to fasten down the plate segments in apparatus of the above type is objectionable because they may obstruct the liquid spray, and their use also involves considerable time-consuming labor. Furthermore, the corrosive action of the gases and liquids employed in such apparatus renders bolts and nuts difficult to remove and frequently they must be burned off when it is desired to remove the plates for cleaning or other purposes.

These difliculties of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which thus not only greatly improves the operating efllciency of the apparatus, but also effects considerable savings in installation and maintenance costs.

Although the novel features which are characteristic of this invention are set forth more in detail in the claims appended hereto, the nature and scope of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which certain specific embodiment-s have been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of a gas scrubber diaphragm embodying the present invention, with the parts progressively broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2:

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are broken vertical sectional views illustrating different modifications of the invention.

In the following description certain specific terms are used for convenience in referring to the various details of the invention. These terms, however, are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the invention as applied to a gas scrubber comprising an upright cylindrical housing or casing II). An annular horizontal ledge I2 is attached to the inner wall of the casing II] by convenient means such as welding.

A plurality of radial members I3 are disposed in casing I like the spokes of a wheel, with the outer end of each such member I3 secured to the casing I0 and the inner end thereof secured to a central imperforate plate or'diaphragm l4. Each radial member I3 comprises a pair of side plates I and I6, flared outwardly at their upper ends as at I5a and IGa, and having top horizontal flanges I1 and I8, respectively. The side plate I5 has a bottom horizontal flange formed to provide a trough I 9 into which the Side plate I6 extends to form a liquid seal, for further details of which reference may be had to my prior Patent No. 2,319,814.

The radial members I3 are assembled so that the top surfaces of the horizontal flanges I1 and I8 thereof are flush with the top surfaces of the horizontal ledge I2 and the central diaphragm I4.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of staples or loops 20 are secured to the top surfaces of each of the horizontal flanges I1 and I8, and to the horizontal-ledge I2 and central diaphragm I4, as shown in Fig. 1. In the embodiment illustrated. the staples 20 on flanges I1 and I8 are spaced equally in linear rows; while the staples 20 on ledge I2 are spaced equally in arcuate rows adjacent the inner periphery of the ledge; and onthe central diaphragm I4 a single staple 20 is mounted midway between the various radial members I3. The staples 20 are all identical, and they may be tapered internally in a longitudinal direction in order to receive tapered locking pins or wedges 2I for a purpose presently to be described.

The gas cleaning elements of the present invention comprise, first, a plurality of flat segmental diaphragm plates 23 having spaced linear rows of perforations 24 and slots or notches 2| in or adJacent the marginal edge which fit over and straddle all of the staples 20 when said plates 23 are seated on and supported by the ledge I2, the central diaphragms I4 and the flanges I1 and I8; and, secondly, a plurality of segmental baille grids 21 which are adapted to be superimposed upon the perforated plates 23 and are constructed in a manner which will now be described.

The segmental baiile grids 21 each comprise a plurality of spaced upstanding bars 28 havins lateral tabs 29 projecting alternately from opposite sides thereof, and a spacer rod 38 which is welded to the under sides of the bars 28 adjacent the marginal edges thereof and thus joins the bars together into a rigid unitary baiile grid. The baflle grids 21 have the same segmental contour as the perforated plates 23; and the bars 28 and their stag ered lateral tabs 28 are so D sitioned and arranged that when any baiile grid 21 is superimposed upon any perforated plate 23, the lateral tabs 29 of the bal'iie grid will lie directly above the perforations 24 of the plate and will be spaced vertically therefrom by the marginal spacer rod 30, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, so that gases ascending through the perforations 22 will be deflected and the scrubbing action increased, as will be readily understood by anyone skilled in the art.

Although the baille grids 21 have the same se mental contour as the perforated plates 23, the overall area of the baflle grids is smaller and corresponds with the perforated area of the plates. Hence, when a baille grid 21 is properly superimposed upon a plate 23, the entire marginal edge of plate 23 containing the slots 25 will extend out beyond the marginal edge of the overlying grid 21, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of securing the baffle grids 21 in place in the gas scrubbing apparatus, a. plurality of U-shaped ears or tabs 32 are welded to the spacer rods 30, these cars 32 projecting outwardly from the marginal edge of the baille grid and being spaced so that they will mate only with alternate staples 20 on the ledge I2 and the flanges I1 and I8 of radial members I3, as well as with the individual staples 20 on the central diaphragm I4.

In assembling the gas cleaning element in the cleaning zone of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

the perforated plates 23 are first placed in position on the support comprising the ledge l2, the

flanges I! and I8, and the central diaphragm I4, with all of the marginal slots 25 of said plates straddling the staples 20, as previously described. Wedges 2I are then inserted through alternate staples 20 and driven into place to secure the plates in position. Every other staple is skipped or left empty, including, preferably, the end or corner staple of each file and the staples on the central diaphragm I I. The staples which are thus skipped or left unoccupied in mounting the perforated plates 23 are those whose positions correspond with the positions of the U-shaped ears or tabs 32 projecting from the marginal edges of the baiiie grids 21.

The said baffle grids 2'! are next superimposed upon the respective perforated plates 23 so that the projecting ears 32 of the baflle grids straddle the unoccupied alternate staples 20 on the ledge I2, the flanges I1 and I8, and the central diaphragm I4, which unoccupied staples project unobstructedly through the marginal slots 25 of the perforated plates 23. Wedges 2I are then inserted through these previously unoccupied staples and are driven into place so that they span both prongs of the ears 32 and thus not only secure the bafile grids 21 in position, but also tightly clamp the latter and the perforated plates 23 together upon the supporting structure with the baffle: properly aligned with the perforations and spaced above the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 4,

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the invention in which the staples 2B are secured as by welding to the perforated plate 23 and to pro jecting ears 34 welded to the spacer rod of bailie grid 21. The ledge [2, the flanges ll and I8, and the central diaphragm M are all provided with slots (in the positions occupied by the staples 20 in Figs. 1 to 4) to receive the staples 20 in Figs. 5 and 6, and the perforated plate 23 is provided adjacent its marginal edge with slots 36 registering with alternate slots 35 to permit assage of the staples 20 carried by the superimposed baffle grid 21. The wedges 2! are driven between the staples 20 and the underside of the respective support l2, M, I! and 18 to lock the parts securely together.

In the further modification shown in Fig, 7 the perforated plate 23 and the bafiie grid 21 are secured to the under surfaces of the supporting members l2, l4, l1 and 68. The cafiie grid 21 is secured in position first, after which the per forated plate 23 is secured beneath the baffle grid with the staples 20 of the perforated plate projecting upwardly through slots 3'! in the ears 32 of the baflie grid and the alternate slots 35 in the supporting member. In this embodiment of the invention the wedges 2| are driven between the staples 2B and the upper side of the respective supports l2, I4, I! and 18. A packing strip 34 may be positioned between the plate 23 and the flange 18 to prevent passage of gases except through the perforations 24.

It is to be noted that in all of the above embodiments the staples and ears serve to align the baflle grids accurately with respect to the perforated plates and that the marginal spacer rods 30 serve to space the baffles from the perforated plate. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 the supporting means is entirely above the perforated plates so that their under surfaces are smooth and unobstructed to a transverse spray.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and modifications may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A diaphragm assembly for a gas and liquid contact apparatus, comprising a perforated plate having marginal slots for securing said plate to a support, and a baffle grid adapted to be superimposed upon said perforated plate and having a spacer on the engaging surface thereof for spacing said plates apart, and slotted ears extending outwardly from said spacer for securing said baffle plate to a support.

2. A diaphragm assembly for a gas and liquid contact apparatus, comprising a perforated plate having marginal slots and a baffie grid adapted to be superimposed upon said diaphragm plate and having a marginal spacer rod on the engaging surface thereof for spacing said grid from said plate, slotted ears extending outwardly from said spacer rod to register with said first slots, and means extending through said slots for securing said plate and grid to a support.

3. A diaphragm assembly for a gas and liquid contact apparatus, comprising a perforated plate having marginal slots and a baffle grid adapted to be superimposed upon said diaphragm plate and having amarginal spacer rod on the engaging surface thereof for spacing said grid from said plate, slotted ears extending outwardly from said spacer rod to register with said first slots, loops extending through said slots, and wedge blocks in said loops for securing said plate and grid to a support.

4. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus, a casing, a, support in said casing including a central imperforate diaphragm and radial members supporting said diaphragm and extending between said diaphragm and said casing, perforated plates on said support, baffle grids overlying said perforated plates, spaced aligned securing means on said perforated plate and said bafile grid and removable means engaging said securing means to secure said plate and grid to said support.

5. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus, a casing, a support in said casing including a central imperforate diaphragm and radial members supporting said diaphragm and extending between said diaphragm and said casing, perforated plates on said support, baffle grids overlying said perforated plates, marginal members on said plate and grid having aligned slots, and means including loops and wedge blocks extending through said slots to position and secure said plate and grid to said support.

6. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus, a casing, internal supportin flanges carried by said casing, a plurality of staples secured to said flanges, perforated plates mounted on said flanges and containing slots adjacent the marginal edges thereof straddling said staples, tapered locking pins wedged into certain of said staples against said perforated plates and clamping the latter in position, bafile grids having marginal spacer rods on the engaging surface thereof superimposed upon said perforated plates and spacin said bafile grids slightly from said perforated plates, slotted ears extending outwardly from said spacer rods and straddling other different staples unoccupied by the aforementioned locking pins, and tapered locking pins wedged into said other staples against said slotted ears and clamping said baffie grids and plates in position, said last pins being adapted to be removed to release said grids without releasing said plates.

ROBERT R. HARMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,136,139 Kuhni Nov. 8, 1938 2,194,126 Schwandt Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 370,524 German Mar, 3, 1923 

